The question to be asked is 'What do we want as a society? Revenge on whoever committed a crime, or a safer country, where criminals are given motivation to be rehabilitated? Robert Callus, AD spokesperson for Social Affairs said, "research shows that under the present system, prison fails to rehabilitate criminals. Also how much it is serving as a deterrent also raises doubts, mainly due to the high rate of recidivism." Read more...

In yesterday's Sunday Times Gozo Newsletter, Castelain highlighted some very pertinent points regarding the planned refurbishment of Villa Rundle: "A few weeks ago, the Ministry of Gozo announced that the public park of Gozo, popularly known as il-Mall or Villa Rundle, will soon be overhauled and refurbished. This is good news, given the precarious state of the pathways. This public park is the only green space in the heart of Victoria. Read more...

Ralph Cassar spokesperson on Energy and the Environment for AD said that Enemalta's announcement that it will set up a wind turbine at Marfa which will supply enough electricity for a household of four is better than nothing, but blowing trumpets over such a miniscule effort is surely an insult to the intelligence of the Maltese people. Studies carried out by University of Malta academics have shown that even medium sized wind turbines at places like Marfa can provide much more electricity. Read more...

In its endeavours to assist the continuous development of Gozo as a tourist destination, particularly during the lean months, the Government launched various initiatives earlier this year aimed towards enhancing and promoting Gozo's tourism product. One of these initiatives is the 'Gozo Attractions Incentive Scheme' which involves the allocation of Lm40,000 from the National Lotteries Good Causes Fund. Read more...

The ubiquitous Maltese balcony is the subject of a set of five stamps and a Miniature Sheet being issued by the Philatelic Bureau of Maltapost on Saturday. The balcony is unequivocally an important feature of the Maltese and Gozitan streetscape. It is believed that the first open balconies built entirely from stone began to appear locally during medieval times. Their popularity declined in favour of more introverted constructions which guaranteed better defensibility. But by the mid-16th century, with the settling of the Military Order of St. John of Jerusalem in Malta, the open balcony regained its former popularity. Read more...

In response to a press release issued by the Ministry for Gozo yesterday, Alternattiva Demokratika General Secretary Mr Victor Galea said that the Ministry had confirmed the statements made by Alternattiva Demokratika that "After decades of neglect, the Ministry for Gozo had decided to upgrade Rundle Gardens in Victoria by strange coincidence accommodating the development which saw the demolition of the landmark Duke of Edinburgh Hotel and the loss of Roman remains to be found on site" Mr Galea said. Read more...

The total number of persons registered as unemployed at the end of March 2007 stood at 7,033 persons, a decrease of 660 compared to last March. The number of registered unemployed in Gozo increased by 23 persons, a rise of 3.3 per cent. Whilst in Malta unemployment decreased by 683 persons, a drop of 9.8 per cent.

An exhibition of new books for Gozo Libraries was inaugurated yesterday at Gozo Public Library. The inauguration of the exhibition was held on the occasion of World Book Day, which is celebrated annually around the world on April the 23rd. On this occasion 600 new books were put on display prior to their being distributed amongst the chain of libraries in Gozo, the Gozo Public Library and the Gozo Lending Library, both in Victoria, the library at the Gozo General Hospital, and eleven other branch libraries in different villages around Gozo. Read more...

"With reference to the press conference given yesterday by Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson Dr Harry Vassallo regarding restoration works for Xlendi tower, the Ministry for Gozo states that restoration works for Xlendi Tower are not the responsibility of the Ministry for Gozo but of third parties." "The Ministry for Gozo does have its priorities right and has indeed embarked on several restoration projects for sites that fall within its responsibilities, chief amongst which is the Citadel and ?gantija Temples where restoration works were carried out in recent years. Works on the M?arr ix-Xini tower were also carried out through Ministry for Gozo resources." Read more...

Speaking at a press conference in Xlendi, Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson Dr Harry Vassallo said that the state of neglect of national treasures to be found in Gozo is a matter for grave concern. "The ancient watch tower at Xlendi is about to collapse due to long standing neglect. If the Ministry for Gozo has not been able to secure the emergency repairs necessary for this national treasure, then one is easily entitled to predict that it will not be able to address the disaster of its collapse which will cause much more damage than already exists. This tower which is the hallmark of this small seaside village will disappear for ever" Dr Vassallo said. Read more...